DAWN Fridayfax 2001 #10

Indonesia

When a resignation is progress

On Sunday, 25 February 2001, some 10,000 Christians - including at least 400 pastors - met in one of Jakarta's sports stadiums for a special event: after 21 years of successful church growth and at the height of his career as a church leader, 39-year-old Samiton Pangellah stepped down, to make room for the next generation of leaders. The Abbalove movement has grown significantly in the past two years, and now numbers some 9,000 members. Its influence goes far beyond its own churches. Samiton believes that God will speak to pastors and other Christian leaders increasingly to serve their town, region or nation, not just their own church. "God is changing our paradigm of church, so that we see the Body of Christ as he does - as an organic unit, not split into denominational fragments," he says. Called an apostolic figure by many Indonesian movements, Samiton sees his next task to develop ways of reaching Indonesia's business community, media and entertainment industry with the gospel, and at the same time to be a spiritual father for the next generation of leaders.

Jesus in everyday life - experiences of an Indonesian house church

The Abbalove movement was originally a cell church, but has switched increasingly to house church principles in the past months. According to Eddy Leo, one of the movement's leaders, there are two basic values: experiencing Jesus' presence in everyday life, and having healthy relationships with one another. These values are expressed by Christians meeting regularly as God's family, with no predetermined programme, eating together and listening to God's prophetic speaking - and doing what he says. Eddy reported some of the things which they have experienced in recent months:

Healed of brain cancer while eating

Alex, one of Eddy Leo's relatives, was suffering from terminal brain cancer. The doctors had recently given him no chance of survival. "Eat and do what you want. You are a dead man," they told him. Alex was not a Christian, but on hearing this depressing news, overcame his reluctance and attended one of Abbalove's celebration meetings. He decided to follow Jesus, and attended a house church the following day. While eating, Jesus appeared to him, and they held a silent conversation. Finally, Alex asked Jesus "Can you heal my cancer?" Jesus nodded, and Alex immediately sensed that something had happened in his head. "I think I'm healed," he told Leo, who advised him to return to the doctors to be examined. Four professors, all specialists for brain tumours, examined him and could only shake their heads in disbelief. Alex is completely healed, his brain normal. "It is an inexplicable miracle," according to the doctors.

A God for desperate parents

The four-year-old son of a wealthy restaurant owner lay in the intensive care ward, suffering from an unknown illness. The man knew Harryaman, who had recently started the house church in which Alex was healed, and called to ask him to come to the hospital. Harry was hesitant, so the house church prayed about what to do. They all agreed: God wanted to touch the parents before healing their son. In prayer, Harry received a Bible verse: "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15). He went to the hospital with his wife to visit the desperate parents, who where ready to fly their son to Singapore, to seek treatment there. They told them to remain calm and leave the future in God's hands. Following prayer, their son's condition improved immediately, and he no longer needed an oxygen mask. They also prayed that the doctors would receive wisdom. Not long afterwards, one of the doctors recognised the problem: a rare lung virus. The boy responded quickly to the specific treatment, and is now almost completely healed. The experience persuaded both parents to follow Jesus.

Lost son found after 8 years

A mother lost her 4-year-old son in Jakarta 8 years ago; he had walked out of the house, and could not be found. The mother was saved recently, and started visiting a house church. In a vision, Jesus spoke to her, saying "Go to the Jakarta National Monument now. You will find your son there. Today, I have answered your prayer." She obeyed, and left immediately. When she arrived at the National Monument, a large park, she asked Jesus "It is so large! Where will I find him?" She sensed Jesus tell her "under that tree." She went to the tree looking for a 12-year-old boy. She found one, and asked him "Daniel, is that you?". Daniel recognised his mother, they hugged each other and were reunited.


Source: Samiton Pangellah; Eddy Leo; Harryaman; Abbalove, fax (+62)-21-6018408, e-mail contact@abbalove.or.id

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